W. VOLLEYBALL

Women's Volleyball Predicted to Finish Ninth in Conference Standings

August 28, 2013

MISENHEIMER, N.C. – The Pfeiffer University women’s volleyball team has been picked to finish ninth in the Conference Carolinas pre-season coaches poll, the league announced Wednesday. Pfeiffer received 24 points in the voting process, ahead of only Converse in the predicted standings.

Belmont Abbey has been selected as the favorite to win the Conference Carolinas championship. Belmont Abbey returns its top three offensive threats from last year’s 26-5 unit that won the Conference Carolinas title for the first time in program history and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.

Trailing Belmont Abbey is King and Erskine while North Greenville and Lees-McRae round out the top five.

New head coach Paul Lawson takes over a team that went 8-19 overall last season, including a 5-11 mark in conference play. The Lady Falcons started the 2012 campaign with a 2-12 record before the team young team showed signs of maturity. Pfeiffer went 5-3 in a tough stretch of conference games, giving the team confidence which Lawson hopes the team carries into the 2013 season.

Returning for Lawson is junior Kelly Lancellot who was named Third Team All-Conference a year ago. Lancellot led the team with 196 kills and was second on the team with a .252 hitting percentage. Lancellot also led the Lady Falcons with 35 service aces and 72 total blocks.

Also returning is senior Milana Mervosh who finished second to Lancellot with 158 kills and led the squad with 221 digs. Sophomore setter Emily Wall returns after pacing the team with 313 assists and also added 116 digs.

The Lady Falcons start the season on Sept. 6 as they take on Lynn and Sioux Falls in the Nova Southeastern Tournament in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Pfeiffer’s first home match isn’t until Sept. 27 when they take on Belmont Abbey at 7:00 p.m. Conference play kicks off on Sept. 20 when the Lady Falcons travel to Lees-McRae.

Conference Carolinas Women’s Volleyball Preseason Poll (# of First Place Votes in Parenthesis)